Local Events
ACRS breakfast presentation on Monday morning, January 12th , 7:30-9:00 AM in the West Dining Room in Northlawn at EMU. Our January presenter is Evan Knappenberger. His topic, “Twistifyin’ and Testifyin, Perspectives on Mennonite Conflict!" comes from his summer researching and writing as part of a nontraditional Ministry Inquiry Program placement. Evan is an Iraq War veteran, currently studying at EMU. As a former US Army operational intelligence analyst, he is interested in how Mennonites, with their convictions on nonviolence, engage in ideological conflict. Is today different than yesterday? For More Information (future and past programs), click on: http://www.emu.edu/acrs/events/Terry R Burkhalter for ACRS Program Committee, Margaret Foth & Vernon Jantzi.
The Creation Care Group of Harrisonburg Mennonite Church will be showing the award-winning video series "Years of Living Dangerously" Wednesday evenings from 7-8pm, January 7 through March 4. Come for one or all 9 episodes. The church is located at 1552 South High Street (42 south) and may also be reached from Emery St. via Central Ave. Enter by the Main (Sanctuary) door. Signs will direct you to Room E2, 3. More information, call Anne Nielsen at 574-6125.
Join us for Celebrate Recovery! – a Christ-centered 12-step recovery group that deals with hurts, habits and hang-ups, including but not limited to, depression, anger, lust, alcoholism, drug addiction, eating disorders, workaholism, abuse, anxiety, etc. Come discover the path to freedom. Children are welcome too! Infants to 5th graders will also learn what recovery is about in a way?? specifically designed for them. Every Tuesday at 6:30pm at Asbury United Methodist Church which is diagonally across the street from the Library downtown. For more info contact Bob at (540) 421-2500 or at Celebraterecovery.asburyumc@gmail.com
EMU Campus Ministries hosts Anton Flores-Maisonet, of the Alterna Community in Georgia, for three talks open to the greater church and public.
- Glimpses of Conversion: Stories in the immigrants' rights movement in Georgia on Wed., Jan. 14 at 10 a.m. in Lehman Auditorium.
- Love Crosses Borders: The story of the Alterna Community on Wed., Jan. 14 at 4 p.m. in Common Grounds Coffeehouse.
- Civil Disobedience/Divine Obedience: Jesus and MLK's vision of the Beloved Community on Thur., Jan. 15 at 11 a.m. in Martin Chapel (Seminary).
Register now for PA 2015: Already making summer plans? Plan to attend Pennsylvania (PA) 2015, the 16th Assembly of MWC which will be held July 21-26, 2015 in Harrisburg, PA. Where else can you worship and fellowship with thousands of Anabaptist Christians in an international gathering? Come get inspired by the music of Zimbabwean and Kenyan choirs. Learn about the global Church by visiting the Global Church Village. Play or watch the Anabaptist World Cup soccer tournament. Get to know others through Friendship Groups. Take part in a service opportunity. See all that PA 2015 has to offer at https://www.mwc-cmm.org/pennsylvania-2015
The community is invited to the EMU Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration chapel service and other events featuring Dr. Nikitah Okembe-RA Imani, professor and chair of the Department of Black Studies at the University of Nebraska. The chapel is at 10 a.m. in Lehman Auditorium on Monday, January 19. A complete schedule is posted at emu.edu/mlk/
Join the Shenandoah Valley MEDA chapter on January 22 at 7 pm to hear Lauren Good, a senior consultant/project manager for MEDA, speak about his work with the Tanzania Cassava Seed Champion project. The event will be held in the Campus Center 105 Strite Conference Room at Eastern Mennonite University. A dessert bar will be provided with a small suggested donation. For more information and to RSVP, please contact Patty Eckard at eckardp@emu.edu.
Registration is open for the VMC Youth Workers' Retreat, January 23-25, 2015 at Williamsburg Christian Retreat Center (9275 Barnes Rd., Toano VA 23168). Rachel S. Gerber, Mennonite Church USA Denominational Minister of Youth and Young Adults, will provide resources on "The Changing Face of Youth Ministry." Register by January 16. Learn more at virginiaconference.org/ministries/youth-ministry/2015-youth-workers-retreat/
Making disciples through Life Transformation groups workshop: Interested in exploring a deep, reproducible yet simple way of making disciples within your congregation? Tired of talking about becoming missional and eager to gain traction in the disciple-making task? VMC pastors, congregational leaders & those interested in developing a discipling culture within their congregations are welcome to Join us Saturday, January 31 (8 a.m. to 1 p.m.) at Park View Mennonite Church Fellowship Hall. Sponsored by Virginia Mennonite Missions and Mennonite Mission Network. Lunch is included in the registration cost of $10. RSVP to Sarah Showalter at <sarah.showalter@vmmissions.org> or (540) 434-9727 <tel:%28540%29%20434-9727> .
Delegates: Winter Delegate Session will be February 7 at Waynesboro Mennonite Church, beginning at 8:15 a.m. and ending by 3 p.m. There will be a $10/person cost to cover the meal. RSVP to Anieta McCracken, Administrative Services Manager, at 540-434-9727 ext 135 or via email to: <Anieta.mccracken@virginiaconference.org>
The Virginia Mennonite Conference Ministry Retreat on "Learning from the Early Church" with Alan Kreider will be February 27-March 1 at Willamsburg Christian Retreat Center, Toano, Va. Register at virginiaconference.org/news/2015-vmc-ministry-retreat/ <http://virginiaconference.org/news/2015-vmc-ministry-retreat/>
You are welcome to join in a transformative healing retreat. Tilda Norberg will be guiding another Opening to Grace Retreat at the Highland Retreat Center in Bergton, Va., on March 5-7. If you know of people who may be interested in attending please forward the brochure; or if you are interested yourself, please fill out the registration form and send it, along with your deposit, to me at the address in the brochure. Pat Hostetter Martin, for the Shenandoah Gestalt Pastoral Care Community of Practice. Opening to Grace Retreat Brochure
All leaders holding ministerial credentials in VMC are invited to: “God’s Gift of Sexuality”: a Pastoral Leadership Consultation on May 15, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Mountain View Mennonite Church, 5252 North Carolina 10 Hickory, NC 28602. Transportation arrangements to and from the Harrisonburg area are in the works. Speakers are still to be decided. RSVP to Anieta McCracken, Administrative Services Manager, at 540-434-9727 ext 135 or via email to: anieta.mccracken@virginiaconference.org <mailto:Anieta.mccracken@virginiaconference.org>
An End-of-life train the trainer event will be hosted at VMRC and led by Beryl Jantzi, Everence director of stewardship education, March 17 (snow date is March 19) from 9:00 – 3:00 with registration starting at 8:30. The fee is $15 payable at the event and covers the 40 page manual, snacks and lunch. For more information and to register contact Patty Skelton at patty.skelton@everence.com or call 540-437-7422. You must register in advance and space is limited.
Click to view the online VMC calendar <https://www.google.com/calendar/render?hl=en&tab=wc&gsessionid=OK#g|month-3+22874+22918+22904>.
Virginia Mennonite Missions
January 11
Yugo Prasetyo, husband to Grace (Schrock-Hurst) Prasetyo, starts a Master's program at a Bible school in Indonesia this month. Please pray for Yugo, that this will be a wonderful time of deepening knowledge and love of God and for encouragement and joy, while networking with other believers.